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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

We are about to have our coldest weather of the season. That means making sure the ducks have water available at all times becomes a much bigger challenge.

I also make sure other creatures are cared for as well. I made a wool cozy from an old sweater sleeve for the hummingbird feeder. I'll bring the feeder in at night so it doesn't freeze, the cozy will help during the daytime hours.

And being kind hearted, we provide shelter on our front porch for the neighbor's outdoor cat.

Monday, December 29, 2014

Drizzle is big on napping. I haven't had ducks before so I'm curious to know if some ducks naturally nap more than others, or if there might be some developmental or environmental reason for this.

Drizzle came from a duck farm as a young adult. The other three ducks arrived at our house at two weeks of age and lived a luxurious life of baths in the bathtub, lots of fresh food and water, and cozy indoor temperatures until they were almost six weeks old.

The other three will be busy foraging and Drizzle will tuck in for a quick nap nearby.

Friday, December 12, 2014

This weeks I saw Drizzle and Herman in the "pond" at the same time. Herman wasn't at all happy about sharing her boys when Drizzle first arrived, so it's nice to see them interacting without any aggression. Drizzle still tends to wait until the other ducks have had their morning bath before she gets into the pond. However, I have seen all four ducks in at the same time upon occasion. Four large ducks barely fit! I'm hoping to get the ducks a bigger pond by next spring, if not sooner.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Backyard poultry fans often discuss the merits of ducks and the merits of chickens. Should I raise ducks or chickens? My answer is to raise ducks and chickens. Ducks and chickens do have different needs. Understanding how to meet those needs in the same yard will help keep your ducks and your chickens happy and healthy. Ducks like it wet. Chickens like it dry. They both need a clean dry place to spend the night. Don't make the mistake of letting your ducks sleep below your chicken roosts, a pooped on duck is not a happy healthy duck. My ducks and chickens sleep in separate houses. Some people keep them together. Either way, both chickens and ducks require a predator proof place to sleep. Ducks must have water when they are eating. They use water to wash down their food. Without an adequately deep water source of water they can choke. Chickens need water, but can eat and then drink a little later. They peck their food into more manageable bites. Ducks tend to swallow their food down in whatever size it was to begin with. Ducks make their drinking water VERY dirty and when you dump it out you'll find a sludge of food particles at the bottom. Plan on giving them fresh water at least once a day. Mine get clean water in the morning, in the afternoon, and again at bedtime. If ducks have access to food, they need access to water. Ducks also prefer to have water at night, if you can figure out a system that provides them with water while also providing them a dry nesting spot.Chickens scratch. This can be helpful in turning bedding and cultivating the garden before planting. However, it can be the end of low growing, easily dug up plants. My neighbor's chickens destroyed the sedums I had growing in a flower bed in my front yard.

Ducks dabble or drill. See the hole in the straw in the picture below? T

hat is a sign that ducks have been foraging.

They generally only do this where there is water or loose substrate,

such as leaves or bedding.

Ducks will quickly turn any wet area into a mud puddle. To avoid your duck area becoming a giant mud puddle you need good drainage, and to not live in the Pacific Northwest.

Chickens get clean in a dust bath. They will turn any dry patch into a dust bath,

or you can provide them with a designated container.

Over at ChickinBoots there's a post about upcycling a dog crate into a dust bath day spa for your chickens that I plan on utilizing very soon.

Ducks need water for their bath. And they will need that water changed often.

How often will depend on the size of your "pond" and how many ducks you have.

If you have drinking water that is separate from the bathing water

you will have a much easier time keeping the bath water reasonably clean.

Chickens see rain as something to hide from if at all possible.

Ducks think rain is the Best Thing Ever!

Ducks or chickens? It's up to you. I think having chickens that scratch and keep the bedding turned is a great balance to the ducks who tend to pack things down. I've raised chickens since I was a kid. Ducks are a newer additions to our yard. So far they've been a delight. Any extra work is easily offset by their cute faces and silly antics.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

The Pacific Northwest is a great place for ducks! When it rains they spend the day happily patrolling the yard in search of worms and slugs, while the chickens huddle miserably under the eaves of the house.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

I try not to put my feelings onto Drizzle. After over a week she's still trying to win over the flock. Then again, it's only been just over a week. Most of the time relations are peaceful, but Herman still let's Drizzle know who is queen of the yard. And Drizzle rarely gets into the "pond" unless everyone else is otherwise occupied. I'm not sure she's lonely, but it seems like she wants to be integrated into the flock.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

This weekend I'm in Seattle with two of my girls to attend Geek Girl Con. My husband and third daughter are home taking care of the ducks. Hopefully while mom's away the ducks will play nicely with each other and the chickens.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Today Fiona Zecora figured out how to get around the fencing, so it came down early in the day.

The chickens, ducks, and yard cat are all figuring out how to get along. I didn't see any chickens picking on Drizzle. However, she's scared of them. If the other ducks go past a chicken she'll start with her distress call, trying to get them to come back because she won't go past the chicken.

I managed to get a picture of Drizzle and Dobby together. It's not the best photograph, but hopefully there will be many more opportunities to share what a pair of Silver Appleyard ducks look like as they become more comfortable together.

Drizzle is still learning what a treat is. Here the others are fishing for greens, while she watches. She came within inches of taking cat food from my hand, but between being leery of people and worried about Herman, who was watching from close by, she shied away. We'll keep working on teaching her about the good things in life, and earning her trust.

She survived her first night in the duck house. Hopefully each night will be a little more peaceful and eventually she'll feel safe in her new home.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Drizzle would really like to be out of her pen and in with the flock. Ducks tend to do everything together. Unlike the chickens, who are often found in different areas of the yard, the ducks are almost always within a few feet of each other. Drizzle gets quite distressed when the other ducks leave her immediate area. Tonight she really wanted to be in the duck house with everyone else. I've made it so that she is right next the other other ducks, and they shifted their sleeping location in the duck house to be next to her, with a wall and screen between them. I'm taking that as a good sign. Hopefully they will accept her fully into the family quickly. I know she'll be much more content when she's wandering with a flock again.

Drizzle is the embodiment of adorable.

From her freckles

To her tail feathers.

And she sure will be happy when she can get take a bath in something bigger than a dishpan!